Thymectomy
Thymectomy, or removal of the thymus gland, is performed to remove tumors of the thymus or alleviate a disease called myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a complex, autoimmune disorder in which antibodies destroy neuromuscular connections. This causes problems with the nerves that communicate with muscles. MG affects the voluntary muscles of the body, especially the eyes, mouth, throat, and limbs.
In the US, MG affects about 14 people in 100,000. The disease is two to three times more common in women than men up to the age of 40; however, in older persons, men and women are affected at similar rates. (Click here for a full description of MG)
The role of the thymus gland in MG is not fully understood, and the thymectomy may or may not improve symptoms. However, the thymus gland exhibits abnormalities in about 70 percent of adults affected with MG.
Performing a thymectomy traditionally required open-chest surgery, resulting in a large scar and a lengthy recovery time. With the advent of minimally-invasive robotic surgery, however, a new approach to thymectomy became available resulting in less trauma, less pain and faster recovery.
Saint Joseph's Center for Robotic Surgery offers this new approach to thymectomy through the use of the da Vinci Surgical System. For the clinically appropriate patient, da Vinci thymectomy offers a number of potential benefits, including:
- Less post-operative pain
- Less risk of infection
- Less anesthesia
- Less blood loss
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster and more complete recovery
- Quicker return to normal daily activities
For more information about robotic surgery, call 1-866-SJ-ROBOT (1-866-757-6268).
